Mr Milosevic faces 66 war crimes charges relating to conflicts in the Balkans during the 1990s.

Mr Milosevic's ill-health, linked to heart problems and high blood pressure, has repeatedly brought his lengthy trial to a halt, putting it behind schedule.

The former Serb strongman began his defence in late August, having refused to use lawyers in court since February 2002, when the prosecution began presenting its case.

The trial judges appointed Mr Kay and Ms Higgins to defend him in September.

Last month, the presiding judge at the UN tribunal, Patrick Robinson, said he was giving the pair time to get "an overview of the witness situation", after they complained that many defence witnesses were refusing to testify.

Mr Milosevic, who has dismissed the charges against him as lies, wants to call more than 1,000 witnesses, but it is unlikely there will be time for all of them during the 150 trial days allotted for his defence.